Using creativity to tackle inequality

Blue Apple uses culture and collaboration to transform attitudes and influence opinion through live and filmed performances that tackle challenging social issues head on.

Below are some films we developed specifically for community use.

Living Without Fear performed in 42 venues to over 5,000 people, including to ministers and MPs in Parliament. This resulted in changed Police practice and led to a commission by the Police to produce a training film, Paul’s Story. A new film, similarly based on the theme of disability hate-crime, will be produced for school-age children, in 2016.

The film, Freddie’s Story, responded to the national Mencap report Death by Indifference and is being used nationally for training medical staff within the NHS and private health care sector. The film has currently sold to 35 Health Trusts across the country.

See No Evil - Helping protect vulnerable people from abuse and exploitation. This short film was produced in partnership with Cass Productions and was developed with the Hampshire Police Crime Commissioner and Hampshire County Council to raise awareness about bullying, prejudicial language and county lines drugs gang. The part-animated video features four of Blue Apple’s actors who all have learning disabilities, as well as real-life police officers. The workshop includes drama and discussion activities, co-facilitated by members of Blue Apple Theatre. Free educational resources are available to accompany the video. The website page hosting the video has received over 2,120 views. Read more here.

To be or not to be - In 2022 we created a film bringing together actors with Down's syndrome from a number of different countries - each taking a line in a speech inspired by Hamlet's "To be or not to be.." soliloquy. This project asks if we don't all have a right "to be"; and if we can't find a way to notice and nurture the skills and talents that the Down's syndrome community bring to the wider world. It was released to coincide with World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March, a global awareness day officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The video has received over 1,480 views. Watch it here.